Green Party

Thank you very much for writing to me about this extremely important question. I share your concerns, as does the Green Party. The answers to your questions would be yes to all of them except number 4! I am sorry, but as time is short I copied here for you our main policies on the Palestine problem. In addition, Ithink we should indeed do far more for Syrian refugees, and are deeply worried about how this situation will develop adding to the existing serious conditions in the area.

1. Yes, the time has definitely come to recognise the state of Palestine worldwide. As many as 135 UN member states have already recognised Palestine as an independent state, and Britain needs to recognise Palestine as well, as soon as possible. Palestine should be allowed to become a full UN member state, rather than simply a 'non-member observer state'.

2. Yes, I do believe we should stop trade with Israeli's settlements on Palestinian land, and stop those goods being sold in Britain-those particular Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and are built on stolen land.

3. I definitely think Britain needs to do more to help Syrian refugees, and asylum seekers in general. In the long-term, Britain also needs to cease military involvement of any sort in any Middle Eastern nation (withdrawing from NATO will certainly help in that regard).

4. As a member of Amnesty International in addition to being the Green Party candidate, yes, I firmly believe human rights, and the protection of human rights, need to be an integral part of British foreign policy.

5. No, Britain's policy on the Middle East is not coherent-it varies depending on economic and political ties with the nations comprising the Middle East. Britain's foreign policy should be consistent and based on respect for human rights, environmental rights, fair trade, and respect for basic freedoms.

Thank you very much for emailing me regarding my views on the Palestine people. Like you I was distressed by the conflict in Gaza last summer, and the tragic deaths of so many Palestinians. I would very much like to see more being done by leaders of both peoples, as well as the international community, to bring about peace and a two-state solution.

Please note I have provided two sets of responses to your questions. The first is my own personal view [AF], while the second is that of the Green Party's [GP].

1. I urge the UK Government to uphold the principles of equality, human rights and international law in all its relations and dealings with Israel.

YES, as I would urge them to do so also when dealing with Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. [AF]
YES [GP]

2. I consider the construction of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be illegal and unjustifiable.

YES, and I have written to the previous MP Zac Goldsmith to urge him to put pressure on the Israeli government to stop the continued building of the settlements. [AF]

YES [GP]

In achieving these principles, what are your views on the following steps that a future UK Government could take:

3. Do you agree that one of the first acts of the next UK Government should be the recognition of Palestine?

The creation of Palestine needs to come about as part of the two-state solution, and should be the outcome of a peace settlement which recognises the inalienable right of Israel to exist, and the rights of both parties to live in peace, freedom and security. Any government which I support will make every effort to bring about a Palestinian state. [AF]

YES, on condition that it is fair to both sides [GP]

4. Do you agree that the blockade on Gaza should be lifted immediately?

Not immediately no, as unfortunately, the security of the Israeli people cannot be assured by Hamas. Remember also, that the blockade of Gaza comes from the Egyptian side as well, in their crack down on Muslim Brotherhood. [AF]

YES [GP]

5. Do you agree that we should stop trade with Israel's settlements on Palestinian land, and stop settlement goods being sold in Britain?

NO, I do not regard Israel as an apartheid state or believe that BDS is the right way forward, as it affects the livelihoods of both Palestinians and Israelis, while sometimes causing ill-informed boycotts of Jewish foods and products in the UK. [AF]

YES [GP]

6. Do you agree that the EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended until Israel meets its human rights obligations?

If we were to suspend this trade agreement then we should also suspend any other trade agreement with every country that fail to meet its human rights obligations (eg China, Saudia Arabia, to name a few). We should also suspend aid to Hamas as it also does not meet its human rights obligations. Demanding Israel adheres to a moral code that we do not put on other countries is not the best way to work towards a two-state solution. [AF]

YES (the boycott statement below covers this). [GP]

7. Do you agree that the government should stop supplying arms to Israel until it complies with international law?

I repeat my answer to the point 6. Furthermore, expecting Israel to not protect and defend its people against heavily armed terror groups, such as Hamas, is indefensible. [AF]

YES [GP]

Furthermore, the Green Party believes that the Arab-Israeli conflict persists owing to the failure to find a fair and humane solution to the problems of the Palestinian people; and at the same time offer appropriate guarantees of security for Israel.

The Green Party condemned Israel's ground invasion and bombardment of Gaza in 2014, and continue to call on the UN, the EU and the US to ensure that Israel complies with international law.

The Green Party also calls on Israel to evacuate illegal settlements within the occupied territories of Palestine. In addition, we call on the government of Israel to dismantle the 'West Bank Barrier' which divides Palestinian territories, depriving Palestinians of land, water, and employment.

The Green Party supports active participation in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign which aims to put pressure on the government of Israel to end the Occupation and to give equal rights to Palestinians.

The Green Party believes that in the present situation neither the UK government nor UK companies should be selling arms to Israel.

Part of the reason why my answers differ from that of the Green Party is, because I do not wish to continue the 'pro-Palestinian' versus 'pro-Israeli' arguments that this issue all too often descends into. Palestinians and Israelis both need secure, peaceful states to live in, and that is why I support the Green Party's policy to pursue a two-state solution, even if I do not agree with all its policies on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Jonathan Bartley condemned Israel's ground invasion and bombardment of Gaza in 2014 and continues to call on the UN, the EU and the US to ensure that Israel complies with international law.

He supports active participation in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign which aims to put pressure on the government of Israel to end the Occupation and to give equal rights to Palestinians. He believes that in the present situation neither the UK government nor UK companies should be selling arms to Israel.

He considers the construction of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be illegal and unjustifiable.

"These are issues that I have a longstanding interest in, and have visited Palestinians on the West Bank, as well as working with peacebuilders who were taken hostage in Iraq at the time of the invasion.

The Green Party condemned Israel's ground invasion and bombardment of Gaza in 2014 (as did I) and continue to call on the UN, the EU and the US to ensure that Israel complies with international law. We also call on Israel to evacuate illegal settlements within the occupied territories of Palestine. In addition, we call on the government of Israel to dismantle the 'West Bank Barrier' which divides Palestinian territories, depriving Palestinians of land, water, and employment.

Do you agree that we should stop trade with Israel’s settlements on Palestinian land, and stop settlement goods being sold in Britain?

Yes, I do. Both I and the wider Green Party support active participation in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign which aims to put pressure on the government of Israel to end the Occupation and to give equal rights to Palestinians. In addition neither the UK government nor UK companies should be selling arms to Israel.

Do you agree that the UKs resettlement of 143 Syrian refugees is not nearly enough?

Nowhere near enough! It was great to hear Green Party leader Natalie Bennett bring this up in the leaders TV debate. We are one of the richest countries in the world, and we should take our responsibilities in this area far more seriously.

Do you think human rights should be an important part of British Foreign Policy?

Yes. I think human rights must be integral and one of the main drivers of foreign policy. One of things I love about the Green Party is its acknowledgement of our interconnectedness - that my human rights are your human rights, whether that is someone here or on the other side of the world.

As part of this the Green Party wants to outlaw the use of torture, sale of torture equipment, and the rendition of people to countries where torture is not prohibited, and enforce the laws against it. We also want to prevent politically motivated exaggeration of threats of terrorism from driving foreign and domestic policies that undermine civil liberties and human rights in the UK or excuse attacks on specific groups of people, including Muslims. We also want to uphold the principles of freedom of speech and peaceful protest, including support for vulnerable communities of all religious faiths and none.

Do you think Britain has a coherent Middle East policy?

That's an excellent question! No, I don't. Our Middle East policy seems to be determined more by whoever is shouting loudest via the media at any given time. There is a lack of coherence in values, and a lack of coherence in objectives. This makes us slow to respond to events, and the response ineffective and poor when we do. It also means that we don't take a leading role.

So for example, I think we should be seeking a peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict based on mutual recognition of the rights of independent statehood for Palestinans and Israelis. Aggression by the Israeli Government should be condemned in Gaza, and we should seek to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement due to Israel's ongoing breach of international human rights law to encourage or compel Israel to recognise Palestine, the human rights of Palestinians, and mutually acceptable borders,"

"Thank you very much for writing to me about Palestine. I agree with the Green Party policy answers below; but further, I have been strongly engaged with Palestinian rights for some time. In 2000 (just before the start of the second intifada) our family spent six months living in Israel/Palestine – in Jerusalem/Il Kuds. I spent some time sitting in front of a local Palestinian house that was threatened with demolition. (Some left-wing Israelis also took part.) Our family saw how the daily nibbling of Palestinian land, and the daily humiliating treatment of Palestinians were escalating tensions.

I was actively involved with PSC for some years on my return to the UK, holding open-air stalls to explain the situation, including the perspectives of sympathetic Israeli academics such as Ilan Pappé. The disproportionate Israeli responses to understandably frightening rocket attacks (in response to ..., in response to ...) have upset me very much.

I look forward to a solution that is just and peaceful for both Palestinians and Israelis, but fear that this can only be achieved with suitable international pressure.

To answer your specific questions:

1. I urge the UK Government to uphold the principles of equality, human rights and international law in all its relations and dealings with Israel.

Yes

2. I consider the construction of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be illegal and unjustifiable.

Yes

In achieving these principles, what are your views on the following steps that a future UK Government could take;

3. Do you agree that one of the first acts of the next UK Government should be the recognition of Palestine?

Yes

4. Do you agree that the blockade on Gaza should be lifted immediately?

Yes

5. Do you agree that we should stop trade with Israel's settlements on Palestinian land, and stop settlement goods being sold in Britain?

Yes

6. Do you agree that the EU Israel Association Agreement should be suspended until Israel meets its human rights obligations?

Yes

7. Do you agree that the government should stop supplying arms to Israel until it complies with international law?

Yes

You may be interested to know that the Green Party has fairly detailed policy on Palestine which can be found here. At our last party conference (Green Party members decide our policy) a special resolution on Israel's ground invasion of Gaza was passed which can be found here.